For the many NFL fans based in cold weather states, the Florida Atlantic can be seen as the perfect combination of sun and football late in the fall. Better yet, the Jaguars’ lack of competitiveness in recent years generally yields a pleasant outcome for opposing fans returning home on Monday.
However, if your itinerary involves more than just the game, the Jacksonville experience requires some expectation-setting.
Opened: 1995
City: Jacksonville, Florida
Capacity: 67,838
Last Visited: Oct 2024
Location
When viewed on a map, the EverBank Stadium location seems ideal, just a casual stroll from the epicenter of downtown Jacksonville. Unfortunately, the city is completely dead on the weekend, with just a handful of east side restaurants and bars open to accommodate the visiting fans from out of town. Of the few breweries in close proximity to the stadium, Intuition Ale Works is the most popular.
The city is not overly pedestrian friendly, making it difficult to get anywhere by foot (with the exception of the stadium). So, for those with any intention of exploring Jacksonville’s more happening spots, a rental car is a wise decision.
If you’re staying downtown, the two neighborhoods worth visiting are Five Points and San Marco, both a 5-10 minute Uber from downtown and featuring a handful of restaurants and pubs. If you’ve got time, the Jacksonville beaches are a 30-minute drive from downtown and offer a slightly wider array of night life options.
Score: 2/5
Venue
Built prior to the Jags entering the league in 1995, EverBank Stadium is nothing to write home about. With a capacity of just over 67,000, it’s amongst the smaller NFL stadiums.
However, its compact nature actually allows for better-than-expected views of the playing field, even from the upper decks. Wide jumbotrons on both ends of the field make for convenient access to replays and game stats. The giant screen in the south end zone partially helps shield against the rather intense sunlight of 1pm games.
One of the more confounding aspects of the stadium architecture is the restriction from being able to walk the entire perimeter: the north end is completely blocked off to general attendees that don’t have access to the private seating area. This design choice leads to a massive amount of congestion in the corridor during halftime and breaks from the action.
Score: 3/5
Accommodations
When it comes to the bells and whistles, EverBank isn’t in the same league as some of the newer NFL destinations like Allegiant Stadium. But for a stadium built in the 90’s, it doesn’t disappoint.
Bolted to the south end of the stadium is a covered auditorium with live music available prior to kickoff. Beyond the entertainment value, it’s a convenient spot to escape the heat and congestion prior to kickoff. Less accessible but equally as neat is the Farah & Farah Fan Deck located on the northern end of the stadium, which includes private cabanas and a swimming pool that - believe it or not - has an unobstructed view of the playing field.
Like other NFL stadiums in the south, EverBank’s food selection spans beyond the typical brat and hot dog offerings, featuring chicken sandwiches, brisket plates and Philly cheesesteaks. While the lineup of alcohol beverages is pretty weak (mostly light beer and cocktail drinks), it’s highly accessible to fans on the south end of the stadium, with six or seven different bars spread out across a spacious standing area that overlooks the south end zone’s 100 level.
Score: 3/5
Atmosphere
Compared to college football environments in the South, Jacksonville doesn’t radiate nearly the same gameday energy, both in the stadium and the surrounding area.
Its tailgating grounds are pretty limited, sitting along the waterfront about five minutes west of the stadium. The lack of shade seems to play a role in the lack of participation by Jags fans prior to kickoff, who are mostly commuting in from the burbs.
Despite not having much to cheer about over the past decade-plus, the Jaguars fan base is certainly present inside EverBank. Over the course of the game you’ll hear a fair amount of “DUUUVAL,” the hometown chant that originated back in the Fred Taylor heyday. However, some lack of passion is evident, with a large portion of season ticket holders showing up right at kickoff and dashing for the exits early in the fourth quarter when the Jags are down.
Score: 2/5
Stadium Score: 2.5 / 5
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Head to the EverBank Stadium page to browse stadium maps and add EverBank to your bucket list!
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